Setback for Gowda as 14 rebels quit JD-S

Fourteen Janata Dal-Secular rebels, lead by former deputy chief minister MP Prakash, quit the party on Wednesday, citing paucity of internal democracy.

Their decision will enhance the woes of the party in the run-up to assembly elections likely to be held in early 2008, more so because a majority of them belong to the numerically strong Veerashaiva community.

The group — comprising a dozen ex-legislators and two members of the legislative council, BT Chennabasappa and B Chidanand — was also critical of JD-S leader H.D. Deve Gowda’s decision to vote against the eight-day government of BS Yeddyurappa on November 19. In a resolution adopted at a meeting on Wednesday evening, they said: “Recent political developments have made all of us hang our heads in shame. We have decided to severe our relationship (with the party) because there is no internal democracy and unilateral decisions are being taken by one leader.”

Later, at a press conference, Prakash said the group would send resignation letters and copies of the resolution to Merajuddin Patel, president of the state unit of the JD-S, and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. “We thank our party colleagues and leaders in the JD-S. We have come a long way and so, there is no chance of retracing our steps. We will remain friends with Kumaraswamy and the other leaders,” Prakash said.

The group will explore the option of joining one of four parties — the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party or Janata Dal-United. A core group headed by Prakash will decide on this next month.